Improved railway-bail joiht



@with tetss etwt @fitta SAMUEL J. REEVES, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 75,977, dated Marc/L 24, 1868.

IMPROVBD RAILWAr-RAIL JOINT;

TO ALL WHOM 4IT MAY QONOERN:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. REEVES, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania., have invented an Improved Rail- Joint; and I do hereby-declare the following `to be a'full, clear, and exact description of the same,

My invention consists of a ribbed bur, placed beneath the ends of two adjacent rails, and confinedthereto by two clznnpingbars, all substantially as described hereafter, so as to form an economical, secure, and rigid rail-joint. A i

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and apply my invention, I will now proceed vto describeits construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which-V i l Figures 1 and Zure transverse/sections (at different points) of my improved rail-joint.

Figure 3, a sectional plan on the line 1 2, l; and

Figure 4, a perspectivey view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. v A and A', tig. 4, represent the ends ofztwo adjacent rails, of the usual form, and B a. bar, of about the same width as the under side,.ia,.of the rails, against which longitudinal ribs, b b, on the saidV bar, bear. D and D are two clamping-bers, each of which has an upper flange, d, overlapping the flange a'of the rail, and a lower Harige, d', underlapping the bar B. 'The whole of the parts are secured together by two bolts` E and E',- passing beneath the rails,but in 'close contiguity theretopand through the 'clamping-bars D and D', notches* being cut vin the ribs b b for the receptionof these bolts.

Owing to-the inclined under sides of the flanges d of tbe-elainping-bars hearing against the inclined tops ofthe flanges a a ofthe rails, the tightening ofthe bolts, and the,` consequent drawing of the two clamping-'bars towards each other, must result in binding the bnr B firmly to the two rails. As the clamping-bersL` and D andthe bar B are made of rolled iron, out into appropriate lengths, and as the bolt-holes in the clamping-bars are readily punched, and the notches in the ribs b b as readily cut by suitablemachinery, and as no expensive itting of the partstogetller is required, the joint is both simple. and cheap ars-regards construction. The bar B is, of itself, but a light and unimportant piece of metal, and will adjust itself to the rail against which the ribs b b fit snugly. Vhcn griped tightly to its place, however,'the bar becomes a substantial and rigid girdor, and., with the clamping-bars, performs the important dutyof maintaining the ends of the two rails -in their Vproper relative positions, and of electuallyresistiug the shocks and strains' to which the rails are subjected.

I The ribs b b serve the twofold purpose of insuring a snug vtit ofthe bar.B to the rails, vand of increasing its rigidity, the notching ofthe ribs forrthe' admission ofthe bolts in noway detracting from this rigidity after thev bnr is confined to its place. It should be understood that the joint is situated between two sleepers, against which no part of the joint bears. i t

I claim as my invention, and desire to' secure by Letters Patentp A rail-joint, consisting of the ribbed bar B and clamping-bars D and D, adapted to each other and to the rails, substantially as set forth, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAML J. fautives'.l

Witnesses zm R. B. AuR'rsEN, W. J. R. DELANY. 

